We are rapidly approaching the end of our first month in this legislative session which began Jan. 14. Committee action is continuing in full swing, but the deadline for House policy bills to be heard is Feb. 22, just 11 days from today. Scroll below to see the committee schedules and bills for public hearings this week.

Here is an update of news from the state Capitol. Please let me know if you have any questions, comments or suggestions.

Our first major debate was held on the House floor on Feb. 1. My Republican colleagues and I offered amendments to make changes to House rules. Four rule changes were proposed:

Prioritizing education by funding education first. This is a concept I introduced several years ago. Constitutionally, education is the state’s “paramount duty.” However, the majority party has made it a practice to fund other state programs first – and then use what’s left over to fund education. It’s much easier to use the issue of kids and schools as a tool to plead the need for tax increases to citizens when money comes up short after lawmakers have funded their pet projects first. I believe we should make education the priority and fund it with the first dollar, not the last dime. Unfortunately, majority Democrats rejected funding education first on a party-line vote, 52-41.

Place the supermajority vote provisions of Initiative 1185 into House rules. Statewide, 64 percent of the voters approved I-1185 in November, which requires the Legislature to have a two-thirds vote to raise taxes. In the 39th District, 72 percent of the voters approved this measure. Voters have said five times in the past 20 years they want a higher threshold for the Legislature to meet before taxes can be raised. Several Democrats have challenged this concept in the state Supreme Court, which is expected to rule this spring on whether the two-thirds requirement is constitutionally sound. Regardless of the court ruling, House Republicans believe we must uphold the will of the people. That’s why we proposed this concept be placed into House rules. Unfortunately, majority Democrats rejected the supermajority requirement on a party-line vote, 52-41.

Allowing each state representative to have one bill that receives a House committee hearing. Representatives in each district serve and represent more than 137,000 people. This is the people’s government and the best legislation often originates from ideas and challenges brought to us by citizens. Yet, committee chairs in the Legislature have the power to decide if a bill can receive a public hearing and a vote. This often shuts citizens out of the process. House Republicans believe that every representative should have a choice of at least one bill to receive a committee hearing, so that the public’s views can be fully represented. Majority Democrats, including all committee chairs, voted against the concept, 52-41.

Prioritizing citizen testimony in committee hearings. Often, citizens will drive many hours across the state to Olympia to attend a public hearing and testify on a bill. Unfortunately, all too often, they are forced to wait while special interest groups, lobbyists and state agency directors get the first shot at testifying. Then when it comes time for the citizen to be called to testify, time has run out. That’s wrong! And that’s why House Republicans believe citizens should get first priority for testimony, ahead of Olympia insiders. Fortunately, Democrats agreed with our position and the amendment passed unanimously.

Washington Farm Bureau names Kristiansen “Legislator of the Year”

Agriculture is such an important part of our state’s economy with nearly $10 billion a year in production. That’s why its such an honor to be recognized by the Washington State Farm Bureau as “2012 Legislator of the Year.” I was invited to receive the award last Tuesday, Feb. 5, during the Farm Bureau’s Legislative Reception and Banquet in Olympia. The award reads, “In recognition of your leadership to strengthen Washington’s family farms.” Thank you, Washington State Farm Bureau!

Mark your calendar! Telephone town hall meeting

In 10 days, on Thursday, Feb. 21 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., I will be holding a telephone town hall meeting. Your input is very important to me. So please mark your calendar and plan on joining me and other citizens from across the 39th District for this event. It’s easy to participate. Just call toll-free: 1-877-229-8493 and enter PIN 15786. Once you are connected, when you are ready to ask a question, press (Star) *3 on your telephone keypad.

I will be looking forward to your call!

Listen to my radio and podcast programs

Get connected to my radio program – Capitol Report – which discusses current issues of the 39th District and the state. Click here for this week’s program. Sign up for my RSS podcast. You can also get all of the Washington House Republican Capitol Report programs on your iPhone and iPad through the iTunes store by clicking here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/capitol-report-washington/id579017734. Capitol Report is also aired Tuesdays and Fridays in the 5 p.m. hour on KSVR – 91.7 FM, Mount Vernon, with legislators from both the 39th and 10th legislative districts.

In addition, listen to my interviews with Ed Bremer on KSER 90.7 FM in Everett on Tuesdays at 4:06 p.m. and Thursdays at 8:30 a.m.

Here are some other important links:

Check out my Web site – This year, I have a new Web site: houserepublicans.wa.gov/dan-kristiansen. From this link, you can get more information about me, view my news releases and read my regular articles to the chambers of commerce and our local newspapers.

We have such talented and bright young people throughout the 39th District. I had the privilege to recently sponsor three of our local teenagers as legislative pages at the state Capitol. Austin Skeith is a 16-year-old student at Cedar Park Christian High School in Bothell, and the son of Shawn and Carrie Skeith of Snohomish. Brandi Dahlinger attends Sky Valley Education Center in Monroe. She is the 15-year-old daughter of Rodney and Gina Dahlinger of Monroe. Lily Sedlak attends Academy Northwest and is the 15-year-old daughter of Paul and Pamela Sedlak of Monroe.

Paging presents students with a unique educational opportunity to participate in the legislative process. Their duties vary from ceremonial tasks, such as presenting the flags, to operational chores like distributing amendments during legislative sessions. For more information about the legislative page program, visit: http://www.leg.wa.gov/House/Pages/HousePageProgram.aspx.

This week in Olympia

I encourage you to become involved in your state Legislature. Below is the schedule for public hearings in the House committees this week. If you’d like to learn more about how to testify in committee, go here. Click on the links below to get information about each bill. For your convenience, I have highlighted in yellow those bills and issues that are most significant to the 39th District.